Compressor for pamphlets and the like within cases



April 7, 1942. G. R. THOMPSON "COMPRESSOR FOR PAMPHLETS AND THE LIKE WITHIN CASES' Filed Oct. 15, 1940 Patented Apr. 7, 1942 COMPRESSOR FOR PAMPHLETS AND THE LIKE WITHIN CASES Gustave R. Thompson, New York, N. Y. Application October 15, 1940,.SeriaI No. 361,251

3 Claims. (Cl. 129--'32) This invention relates to compressors for pressing together a series of pamphlets, periodicals, sheets and the like, partially filling a case, so that they will stand upright in the case, and provides improvements therein.

Following the introduction of the binder set forth in U. S. Patent No. 2,182,858, granted Dec. 12, 1939, a need arose for a suitable andsatisfactory means for holding pamphlets and periodicals therein pressed together and upright while the complete group constituting a volume was accumulating. Much though and effort was given to the development of a satisfactory compressor, and a number of ideas were tried without producing the desired results. The present invention is the fruition of the chance idea which produced the desiredresults.

To attain the desired degree of satisfaction, the compressor had to meet the following requirements: It had to be simple in structure and simple and economical to manufacture; simple and easy to apply; avoid undue strain and mutilation of the binder or case; be automatic in its operation; be capable of expansion and contraction through a relatively large distance, and have a resiliency which does not vary widely throughout the distance between the effective extremes of expansion; be capable of lying fiat in packages; be compatible with the easy insertion and removal of pamphlets, sheets, and the like in and from the binder; and maintain the pamphlets etc. in a straight position while the binder or case is being filled.

The present invention is an article of manufacture which meets the aforesaid requirements.

Two embodiments of the invention areillustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the compressor.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the compressor.

Fig. 3 is a developed view of a form of blank which may be used in making the compressor.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View looking down on the compressor inside of a binder or case, and illustrating its mode of operation in pressing and holding upright the plurality of pamphlets partially filling the binder or case.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a second embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a graph illustrating the force of the resiliency throughout the expansion range, from three and three-quarters of an inch to one-half inch, of a particular compressor being tested and illustrating the relative constancy of the force of the resilience in the expansion range from zero to something over three inches. The cominches.

pressor tested was a small one for use in a binder forv periodicals having a page size of six and one-half inches.

Referring to said drawing, numeral H) designates a sheet of flexible material having a height and a'width conforming to the inside height and width of the binder or case with which it is to be used, and to'the dimensions of the periodicals or the like used therein. The sheet [I] may be of any suitable material; a kraft fiber board .03" thick has been used. In some cases, it may be desirable to have the piece l0 project slightly above .the height of thecontents of .the case in which the compressor is used. It is usually advisable to have .the'grain of the paper board run crosswise of the bowand in line with the bend. The body of the sheets l0 and}!!! :areunweakened, as by creases, .as this has beenfound to interfere with the stability of the compressor.

Considering the application of the compressor to the binder of U. S..Patent 2,182,858 the extreme width of binders for a volume-group of periodicals, in the generality of cases, is four inches. No amount of bowing, for example, could bow the sheet In of a compressor having a width of six and one-half inches (for use in the binder for periodicals having a page-width of approximately six and one-half inches) so as to extend across a binder having a width of four Extensibility, by means of bowing, almost equal to the width of the sheet 10 is provided by combining a second sheet 30, of flexible material similar to sheet H], with the sheet In so as to bow in the opposite direction. From the standpoint of manufacturing economy the sheets Ill and 30 may be cut out in'the form of a single blank 'as illustrated in Fig. 3. A flap 32, here shown as forming an integral part of the sheet 30, is provided, which flap is attached to the opposite side of the sheet ill, in any suitable manner, as by means of staples 33. To facilitate bending, creases and 36 are provided between the sheets l0 and 30 and between the sheet 30 and the flap 32. A rubber band i2 is arranged between the sheets l0 and 30 and hooks l3 and M for the rubber band are conveniently provided by the parts of the sheets l0 and 30 at or adjacent the creases 35 and 36. To better maintain the rubber band H in place, notches l5, l6, l1, I8 are formed in the material adjacent the creases 35 and 36.

The joining of the side edges of the sheets I!) and 3D acts as a reinforcement for each of the sheets, and opposes warping and unsymmetrical flexing of the unit in use.

It is a good working rule to choose a rubber band I! of a size and strength to bow the sheets Ill and 30 Figs. 1 to 4 and 5, to an amount somewhat exceeding, but corresponding to, the width from side to side of the binder or case in which the compressor is intended to be used. This is readily done by trying a number of bands and choosing the one which gives the desired result.

Multiples of the expansion range of a, single unit may be obtained by joining two or more of the units as illustrated in Fig.7 5. Also, by using two units, one at each side of the case, a doubling of the range of action of a single compressor may b obtained.

As previously stated, the compressor has a relatively constant resiliency throughout a relatively wide effective range. This is illustrated by the graph Fig. 6. This relative constancy is explained by the fact that, while the tension of the rubber band increases as the compressor is com- Dressed, the sheet In, and also the sheet 30, at the same time have a mechanical action similar to a toggle lever, and resist the action of the rubber band l2 with better mechanical advantage as the sheets l0 and 30 approach a, single plane. From this it follows that the pressure of the compressor against the case, after a slight amount of compression from its fully expanded position remains relatively constant throughout the remainder of its compression. 'Ihis is advantageous when the compressor is used in cases or binders made of fiber board. It has been found in practice, with the use of compressors made according to the present invention, that cases or binders made of fiber board are not strained in any objectionable sense and that the bulging of the sides is very slight indeed.

With a compressor according to the present invention there are no projections or line or point contacts to obstruct the insertion and removal of pamphlets, periodicals, or the like to and from a binder, and consequently no mutilation thereof is inserting or removing them.

By reason of the construction thereof, the compressors are readily packaged, stored and shipped flat, even with the rubber bands hooked thereto.

By reason of the very simple construction of the compressor, it may be economically produced.

Modeof operation The compressor readily yields automatically to provide the space for the insertion, and readily expands automatically to occupy the space provided by the removal. The action of the compressor within a binder or case is to press the pamphlets, periodicals, and the like together and toward a side of the binder, and thereby hold the contents upright and prevent sagging of the contents. In the case of periodicals, the successive issues may be placed within a binder, and while the full number of issues making up a volume is accumulating, those on hand are maintained pressed together and standing straight within the binder. This prevents leaves becoming set in a bent position which they otherwise would do by remaining for some time in a sagging position. Before inserting the last one or two periodicals of a volume, the compressor may be removed from the binder.

The compressor also finds uses in various other forms of cases than the type of binder specifically mentioned. It is useful, for example, also in drawers and in various forms of filing cases.

The invention may receive other embodiments than those herein specifically illustrated and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A compressor for use in a case, for pressing together pamphlets, periodicals and the like, partially filling the case, so that they will stand upright therein, comprising a pair of unweakened sheets of flexible material attached together at two opposite sides, which are substantially uniformly flexible from side to side, and elastic means attached to said sheets at the two opposite connected sides and extending between the sheets, and tensioned to how the sheets in opposite directions so as to press on said contents of the case and to automatically expand or contract as the contents of said case are increased or diminished.

2. A compressor for use in a case, for pressing together pamphlets, periodicals and the like, partially filling the case, so that they will stand upright therein, comprising a pair of unweakened sheets of flexible fiber board attached together at two opposite sides which are substantially uniformly flexible from side to side, notches adjacent the connected sides of said sheets forming hooks for a rubber band, and a rubber band attached to said hooks, extending from one side to the other and between the connected sheets, and tensioned to bow the' sheets in opposite directions so as to press on said contents of the case and to automatically expand or contract as the contents of said case are increased or diminished.

3. A compressor according to claim 2, wherein said sheets are constituted by a single blank, and further comprising a flap at one side of the blank, the blank being folded at the junction of the two sheets and at the flap, and the flap being fastened to one side of the sheet facing the sheet to which the flap is joined.

GUSTAVE R. THOMPSON. 

